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The #YesSalud bilingual campaign, a collaboration between the Diabetes Hands Foundation online communities and USAGov, aims to raise awareness about diabetes; different types, prevention and how to help loved-ones with diabetes. Every week in November we will be presenting a different theme, with the goal to provide as much information and as many resources to our community as possible.

Throughout the month of November the #YesSalud campaign has encouraged people to ask their diabetes-related questions HERE, or on twitter or facebook using #YesSalud.  We have been collecting these questions, and this live-streamed event will focus on discussing and answering them!!  Join us on December 3rd to learn what others have asked and how our experts, Lorena and Marina answer your questions.

Lorena Drago, MS, RD, CDN, CDE, is a registered dietitian, consultant and certified diabetes educator.  

Lorena specializes in the multicultural aspects of diabetes self-management education and is an expert in developing culturally and ethnically-oriented nutrition and diabetes education materials. She founded, Hispanic Foodways which received the New York City Small Business Award in 2006. She developed the Nutriportion™ Measuring Cups that has the calorie and carbohydrate amounts of common foods embossed on each cup and the Nutriportion™ Hispanic Food Cards that have pictures and nutrition composition of common Hispanic foods.

Lorena served on the American Association of Diabetes Educators board of directors from 2006-2010, Chair for Latinos and Hispanics in Dietetics and Nutrition. She was Past President of the Metropolitan New York Association of Diabetes Educators in 2004. Lorena won the Diabetic Living People’s Choice Award in 2012.

She is the author of the book Beyond Rice and Beans: The Caribbean Guide to Eating Well with Diabetes published by the American Diabetes Association. She is a contributing author and co-editor of the book Cultural Food Practices and Diabetes, published by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and print communications chair for the Diabetes Care and Education Specialty Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Lorena’s new publication, The 15-Minute Consultation Guide will be published in 2016 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Lorena has appeared on several national TV shows speaking about diabetes management.

Marina Chaparro, RDN, CDE, MPH, is a bilingual pediatric and diabetes nutrition expert. She is a certified diabetes educator at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, where she provides comprehensive diabetes education to children and families and instructs patients on the latest technology advances in diabetes care.

Chaparro is an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor trainer and is often asked to speak on topics such as childhood obesity, infant nutrition, diabetes and Latino Health issues. She is National Spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and has extensive experience providing science-based commentary to major media outlets such as The Huffington Post, Univision Media, Miami Herald and Reuter’s Health. Marina often contributes articles and story ideas to print and online communication channels where she translates nutrition science into practical every-day information for consumers. Chaparro is also the founder of Nutrichicos Children’s Nutrition Center, a bilingual nutrition center specializing in pediatric nutrition that offers individualized nutrition assessments & services in both Spanish and English.

On her blog, www.nutrichicos.com, Chaparro shares reliable, practical and science-driven recommendations to help parents and families meet the nutrition needs of their children. Marina has experience working at top diabetes institutions including Joslin Diabetes Center, Mass General Hospital and Miami Children’s Hospital. She is passionate about diabetes care since her diagnosis with type 1 Diabetes at age 17. Chaparro’s background includes clinical nutrition, public speaking, public health, research and program planning with a focus on Latino health issues. She co-created a successful nutrition and physical activity program for Hispanic adolescents and their mothers, called Healthy Chicas while working in Miami Children’s Hospital. Chaparro earned a specialty certificate in pediatric weight management. Marina is a graduate of Boston University and earned a master’s degree in public health from Florida International University.